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9th out of 54 books
—
54 voters
Things I Learned From Knitting (whether I wanted to or not)
The Yarn Harlot strikes again! Best-selling knitting author and humorist Stephanie Pearl-McPhee is back with an irresistible collection of witty observations on how knitting and life wisdom are spun together.
In "Things I Learned From Knitting (Whether I Wanted To or Not)," Pearl Mc-Phee examines age-old aphorisms in light of knitting. From "Hope Springs Eternal" to "A Fr...more
In "Things I Learned From Knitting (Whether I Wanted To or Not)," Pearl Mc-Phee examines age-old aphorisms in light of knitting. From "Hope Springs Eternal" to "A Fr...more
Hardcover, 159 pages
Published
March 19th 2008
by Storey Publishing
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I ordered this book from Amazon on a whim, thinking I wanted something other than a pattern book for some light reading. This pocket sized book is a collection of musings from the Yarn Harlot paralleling life with knitting.
It was cute, if sometimes a little forced. I think anyone can find a knitting/life parallel if they try hard enough, and none of the anecdotes were earthshaking or eye opening. Pearl-McPhee rights with a quick wit and a sense of humor that makes the read enjoyable, though, an...more
It was cute, if sometimes a little forced. I think anyone can find a knitting/life parallel if they try hard enough, and none of the anecdotes were earthshaking or eye opening. Pearl-McPhee rights with a quick wit and a sense of humor that makes the read enjoyable, though, an...more
After finishing that horrible book I just read for book club, I picked this one up as one of the few Yarn Harlot books that I haven't yet read. It was as enjoyable as her others, with the stories sorted as a list of "things knitting has taught me" interspersed with cute lists and statements of "what knitting is still trying to teach me." The content of the book was good, but it was much shorter than I was expecting although maybe this would have been apparent in the paper copy rather than the el...more
I tend to shy away from books that put a philosophical spin on knitting. I do not enter into some transcendent state of enlightenment as a result of knitting. Yes, it is a passion, therapy and outlet, but knitting has not taught me things, rather, life has and I am able to apply what I have learned to my craft. If anything, knitting is a microcosm of life with its increases, decreases and WIPs! How I approach knitting is as a result of how I learn to handle life. None the less, there were plenty...more
Review first published on my blog: http://memoriesfrombooks.blogspot.com...
Things I Learned From Knitting is another collection of essays by blogger Stephanie Pearl-McPhee. As a knitter, I found myself laughing and nodding my head in agreement over a lot of the material. Anyone passionate about a craft will recognize that we all start to see our philosophy of life reflected in elements of our craft. Our crafts teach us, keep us busy, and enable us to show ourselves to the world. And they teach u...more
Things I Learned From Knitting is another collection of essays by blogger Stephanie Pearl-McPhee. As a knitter, I found myself laughing and nodding my head in agreement over a lot of the material. Anyone passionate about a craft will recognize that we all start to see our philosophy of life reflected in elements of our craft. Our crafts teach us, keep us busy, and enable us to show ourselves to the world. And they teach u...more
I picked this up because I thought it would be amusing, and because there are very few books out there on knitting that aren't pattern or technique books - it seemed like a fun addition to my library.
Unfortunately, I found the writing (or humour, I'm not sure which) trite and - as such - not terribly insightful. From a more adept writer, I think this could have been a great little book. Or perhaps it should have been part of a blog.
Edit: I take that last bit back. Apparently she does blog. No w...more
Unfortunately, I found the writing (or humour, I'm not sure which) trite and - as such - not terribly insightful. From a more adept writer, I think this could have been a great little book. Or perhaps it should have been part of a blog.
Edit: I take that last bit back. Apparently she does blog. No w...more
I was planning on waiting to purchase this book until I showed up at whatever venue Stephanie was speaking at (to say thank you to the book store or yarn shop). I was sad about this because if there is anything I’m impatient about waiting for, it’s a book that’s been published that I want to read. So imagine my delight when a good friend I’ve lost touch with sent it to me as a surprise!
What to say and how to say it? I see Steph as the older sister I don’t have. She’s smart, she’s witty, she’s ve...more
What to say and how to say it? I see Steph as the older sister I don’t have. She’s smart, she’s witty, she’s ve...more
How can you not love a book that takes all the stupid mistakes you've ever done in knitting and turn them into one of the funniest stories you've ever read? Stephanie Pearl-McPhee is an excellent writer who weaves in profound truths that you thought you learned long ago (and yet, still think stuff like gauge doesn't really matter for This pattern) all the while making you clutch your stomach and complain of pain from laughter.
I heartily enjoyed this book, I almost couldn't stand reading it beca...more
I heartily enjoyed this book, I almost couldn't stand reading it beca...more
This is the first book that I've read by the Yarn Harlot and I now understand why knitters rave about her books. Even though I'm a relatively new knitter I still found this book entertaining...and a little scarry to be honest. I wonder if my husband will add a new room onto our house for the future yarn stash...
I highly recommend anything by Stephanie Pearl McPhee to anyone who knits, or anyone who likes books with a quirky sense of humore. I always giggle throughout her books. While I am knitter, and not a Knitter like her (if you read her books, you'd understand that) I can truly appreciate her ramblings.
Sep 19, 2011
Janell
added it
This was really fun to read- I loved when you read an experience that is so perfectly fitted to your own. Of course as a rather new knitter, some of the essays were good warnings for the future. Stephanie is always funny and reminds me how much fun the knitting community is.
The funny thing about reading this book is that I don't know how to knit. But Stephanie is humorous, witty and eloquent and I'd recommend this book to all creatives. Loved this quote, "You don't knit because you are patient. You are patient because you knit."
Stephanie Pearl-McPhee seems like a bright, delightful, warm-hearted, funny person who I would love to hang out with. I enjoy reading her books, but they seem like a rehashing of things she's written elsewhere, but cloaked in different formats.
Things I Learned From Knitting…. Whether I Wanted To Or Not is a quick, fun read that is sure to amuse knitters (and anyone who has a knitter in their lives). There are some really funny laugh-out-loud moments (my personal favorites are “5 Things Worrying non-Knitters Have Warned Me About, 5 Ways Knitting is Better Than Video Games, 4 Things that are Really Funny When They Happen to Other Knitters, and a particularly cute letter from the author to her yarn stash) mixed with some thoughtful, inte...more
Another great read from Stephanie Pearl-McPhee! Stephanie looks at well-known philosophies and adages (think "Haste Makes Waste") and applies them to the knitterly world. Light-hearted, witty, and thoughtful, Stephanie's latest effort had me chuckling, nodding, and feeling very good about my knitting, erm, habit.
Oct 11, 2008
Natalia
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
a gift for a new knitter, along with needles and yarn
I was expecting something more like "The Secret Life of a Knitter", a book of longer essays with some personal experiences and knitting insights. I aparently mixed up this book with "Free Range Knitter" that's coming out soon. Unlike those two books, this is not a book for reading, it's essentially a "gift book" - full of short, pithy sayings and funny little blurbs. Like those little "You're the Best Sister" books they sell at Hallmark.
If I were putting together a little learn-to-knit gift for...more
If I were putting together a little learn-to-knit gift for...more
By choosing two stars, I really do mean it was okay. A little book about her philosophy and how knitting helps her cope, blah, blah. I can relate, but there's not a whole lot new or earth shattering here. Not really a keeper.
This was actually a little disappointing... I didn't feel that this book ready as easily and was as freely funny as in At Knit's End. Still diverting and enjoyable, though.
Aug 11, 2011
Gayle
added it
I just started knitting 2 weeks ago, but I certainly found what Stephanie Pearl-McPhee true. I would recommend this book to all the knitters out there! :)
Funny like her blog, but short and sweet. If you can get your hands on a copy of this book do, because it's all tiny and fun to hold. Fits great in purses!
It was okay. I'm still convinced Pearl-McPhee is just reusing the same content but re-packaging it every time. Glad I stopped buying her books.
The next best thing to knitting is reading a book about knitting by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee... because she describes us so accurately. And I thought I was so unpredictable...
A good bathroom read - short bits that are nice for a daily meditation maybe, but not my usual read. Good if you like this kind of thing.
This is the last Stephanie Pearl-McPhee book. (Or, at least, the last I can get my hands on).
Sad face.
::pout::
-----
This is the first book that's repeated an essay. A good essay, but still. It also twisted my brain into thinking about knitting differently, which is one of the reasons I love Mrs Harlot so very much.
It also made me knit while reading. No, really, it made me.
Sad face.
::pout::
-----
This is the first book that's repeated an essay. A good essay, but still. It also twisted my brain into thinking about knitting differently, which is one of the reasons I love Mrs Harlot so very much.
It also made me knit while reading. No, really, it made me.
funny, short, sweet. I laughed at one essay until I cried and made my husband read it. He didn't think it was funny.
Not one of my favorite Yarn Harlot books, not bad, just nothing really exciting going on here. Although I really like the introduction of Cognitive Psychology.
My first Pearl-McPhee book. How did I ever enjoy knitting without the literary accompaniment?
GREAT life lessons with knitting analogies. Easy to read over and over, it never gets old.
Not as good as some of her other books, but definitely worth the read if you are a knitter.
It is so fun to hear someone point out the funny things about knitting. I enjoyed reading it.
What fun and oh-so-true observations on life and knitting and their frequent intersections!
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Stephanie Pearl-McPhee (better known as the Yarn Harlot) is a prolific knitter, writer and blogger known for her humorous but always insightful anecdotes and stories about knitting triumphs and tragedies.
More about Stephanie Pearl-McPhee...
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“Knitting is still trying to teach me
That no matter how well you knit, looking at your work too closely isn't helpful. It's like kissing with your eyes open: nobody looks good that close up.”
—
2 people liked it
That no matter how well you knit, looking at your work too closely isn't helpful. It's like kissing with your eyes open: nobody looks good that close up.”
“Five things I'd rather do than swatch for my new project
1. Get a spinal tap.
2. Scrub the bathtub after all three of my daughters have come home from "Sandbox day" at the park.
3. Babysit two-year-old triplets while simultaneously diffusing a bomb.
4. Bathe a cat.
5. KNIT MY NEW PROJECT.”
—
1 person liked it
More quotes…
1. Get a spinal tap.
2. Scrub the bathtub after all three of my daughters have come home from "Sandbox day" at the park.
3. Babysit two-year-old triplets while simultaneously diffusing a bomb.
4. Bathe a cat.
5. KNIT MY NEW PROJECT.”
